On August 13, the US military reported losing approximately 25% of its MQ-9 Reaper drone fleet during recent operations against Iran and its allies. This loss amounts to at least 45 drones out of a total of 185 currently in service.
Each MQ-9 Reaper costs between $30 million and $50 million, depending on configuration. The total value of these losses exceeds $1.3 billion.
The drones’ operational profile—characterized by slow flight speeds and low-altitude operations—has made them particularly vulnerable to Iranian forces and their allies in the Middle East. Additionally, communication failures with operators have resulted in further drone losses.
